Begonia plant named ‘KROUTOR01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KROUTOR01’, characterized by its upright to broadly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large single-type dark orange-colored flowers; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis×Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KROUTOR01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis×Begonia×tuberhybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘KROUTOR01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Begonia plants with excellentoutdoor performance.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in March, 2006 of Begoniaboliviensis ‘Bonfire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number KV02K0352-013, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in February, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by cuttings taken in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since July,2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KROUTOR01’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KROUTOR01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to broadly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Large single-type dark orange-colored flowers.    -   5. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Bonfire’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more upright than and not as        pendulous as plants of ‘Bonfire’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of        ‘Bonfire’.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Bonfire’.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower form as plants of the male parent selectionhave semi-double flowers. In addition, plants of the new Begonia havenarrower leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants ofBegonia×tuberhybrida ‘Sunjiraore’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,266. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed primarily from plants of‘Sunjiraore’ in leaf and flower size as plants of the new Begonia hadlarger leaves and flowers than plants of ‘Sunjiraore’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘KROUTOR01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close up view of typical flowersand leaves of ‘KROUTOR01’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in 13-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 19° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis×Begonia×tuberhybrida    ‘KROUTOR01’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Begonia boliviensis ‘Bonfire’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number            KV02K0352-013, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 19° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white to orange brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright to broadly spreading and            mounded plant habit.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under            optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about            twelve weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm            potted plants from cuttings.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit, about eleven            basal branches develop per plant; dense and bushy habit.        -   Plant height.—About 26.7 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 40.2 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 14.1 cm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Aspect: Erect to about            50° from vertical. Strength: Flexible, bending with the            weight of the flowers. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color,            developing: Close to 152A. Color, developed: Close to N199A.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length: About            14.5 cm. Width: About 6.1 cm. Shape: Unequally ovate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Biserrate. Texture, upper            surface: Sparsely pubescent; velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Moderately pubescent, especially along the veins.            Luster, upper surface: Moderately glossy. Luster, lower            surface: Slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Between 138A and 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N189A; venation,            close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 191A; venation, close to 148A. Petioles: Length: About            4.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Sparsely to moderately pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Between 165A and 177B; distal end tinged with close            to 185A. Stipules: Two present at the base of the leaf.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 154C to 154D;            venation, close to 179A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Large single-type rotate            flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes; usually about            three female flowers and two male flowers per cyme, numerous            cymes in flower simultaneously and about 275 flowers            developing per plant; flowers face outwardly to slightly            drooping and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about five            weeks after pinching; plants flower naturally from the            spring to autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two weeks on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.8 cm.        -   Female flowers.—Flower buds: Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter:            Ranging from about 7 mm to 18 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate,            flattened. Color: Close to 35B. Flowers: Diameter: About            6.3 cm. Depth: About 4 cm. Shape: Rotate. Tepals: Quantity            per flower: About five to seven arranged in a single whorl.            Length: About 3.9 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 40A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 41A; towards the base,            close to 41B to 41C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            40A; towards the base, close to 40B; color does not fade            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 40A;            color does not fade with development. Tepaloids: None            observed on female flowers. Pedicels: Length: About 4.1 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis.            Strength: Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.            Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 146C or close            to 42B to 42D.        -   Male flowers.—Flower buds: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter:            Ranging from about 8 mm to 24 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate,            flattened. Color: Close to 40C to 40D. Flowers: Diameter:            About 7.7 cm. Depth: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Cruciform,            four-parted. Tepals: Quantity per flower: About four            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.6 cm to 4.7 cm.            Width: About 3.4 cm to 4.3 cm. Shape: Two tepals, obovate            and two tepals, orbicular to reniform. Apex: Rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 33A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 40B; towards the base, close to 40C.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 33A and 40A;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 40B; color does not fade with development.            Tepaloids: Quantity per flower: If present, up to three            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:            About 1.4 cm. Shape: Falcate-obovate to obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 33A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 40B; towards the base,            close to 40C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between            33A and 40A; color does not fade with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 40B; color does not fade            with development. Pedicels: Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Angle: Upright to about 45° from peduncle axis.            Strength: Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.            Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 146C or close            to 42B to 42D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Angle: About 45° from lateral branch axis. Strength:            Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture:            Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 148A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens (present on male flowers only):            Quantity per flower: About 50. Filament length: About 4 mm.            Filament color: Close to 22B. Anther shape: Obovate;            basifixed. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close            to 22A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11C.            Pistils (present on female flowers only): Quantity per            flower: About six, fused in pairs. Style length: About 1 cm.            Style color: Close to 28B to 28C. Stigma color: Close to            22A. Ovary color: Close to 146B to 146C and 42D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed to    have excellent garden performance, to tolerate high temperatures of    about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KROUTOR01’ asillustrated and described.